Anna dokmitzer



(No Model.)

A. DORMITZER.

STEP LADDER.

2 5 ,1 ago Feb.

M/VEA/TOR y ted Pat ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANNA DORMITZER, OF NEXV YORK, N. Y.

STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 421,914, dated February 25, 1890.

Application filed November 27, 1888. Serial No. 291,956. (No model.)

1'0 aZZ whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, ANNA DORMITZER, of New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ornamental Step-Ladders, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention is designed as an improvement on the ornamental step-ladder for which Letters Patent of the United States Nos. 336,219 and 361,212 have been issued to me; and its object is to simplify and to increase the convenience and usefulness of the stepladder by certain novel devices, which will be hereinafter fully set forth.

Reference is to be had to the accompany ing drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the step-ladder folded in position for suspension from a wall. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same open for use. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same folded up. Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged elevations of a section of the same. Fig. '7 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the top step. Fig. Sis a sectional elevation on line w 00, Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is a detail in horizontal section above the top step on Fig. 3. Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail of a stop and link.

In the drawings, A represents the front section of the ladder, consisting of two parallel side bars a 01, held together by top and bottom cross-bars b b, the four bars forming a rectangular frame, which may be strengthened by other cross-bars, as b. The back section B is also a rectangular frame, composed of side and end pieces 0 c (Z (Z, respectively, and strengthened by other bars, if desirable. This section B is made narrower than the frame A by as much as the thickness of the side bars a a, and the two sections are hinged or pivoted together at their upper ends, as shown at g, so that the section B may be folded within the sides of the section A, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 4, or so that the two sections may be opened apart for use as a step-ladder, as shown in Fig. 3.

Secured on the back section B and forming the outer or exposed face of the same, is a panel B, (shown in Fig. 1,) which may be of wood, paper, plush, silk, canvas, or other suit able material, with some decorative or ornamental design painted, printed, embroidered, or otherwise fixed on it, according to fancy; or said panel may be, per se, of ornamental material.

The steps G C are pivoted at their ends, near the rear edges thereof, as indicated at 72, between the side bars a a. The upper step 0 has near its ends two rear extensions It, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 7. .As thus far described this ladder is like that described in Patent No. 361,212, above referred to. One of my present improvements consists in securing a metal band Z on the side edges of this upper step and its extensions 70,

and on the rear edges of the latter, for

strengthening the same, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 7, and also in fixing stops Z securely to the side pieces 0 c of the section B for the step-extensions 7a to engage and hold against when the ladder is opened, as in Fig. 3. These bands Z may have their edges lapped over on the upper face of the step 0 and extensions, as shown in Fig. 7, and also on the lower face thereof, thereby increasing the strength of the same, and when the steps are opened the bands on the rear edges of the extensions 70, making contact with the stops Z, protect from wear the wood of the said extensions, and thereby increase the strength and durability therof. The edges of all the steps may be bound with these metal straps or bands, as shown in Fig. 3, or only the upper step and rear ends of the extensions thereof.

All the steps 0 C are connected with each other by two rods 0 0, which are secured to the ends thereof near their fronts, as in the case of the Patent No. 361,212, so that all the steps are synchronously closed and opened; and, as in said case, a catch 19 serves to hold the two sections of the ladder closed together.

On the outer face of one of the side bars of the ladder-section A, and near the top thereof, is pivoted a sleeve t, so that it may be swung laterally, as indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 5, and secured on the outer face of this same side bar and extending nearly the entire length thereof-say to the point qis a tongue or pin 1:, which together are designed to hold and guide a stout rod E, provided with longitudinal groove 12', which also extends from the lower end of said rod only to the point q, as shown in Fig. 8, so that when said rod is pushed down in position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4 the closed end of the groove 1: makes contact with the top of the tongue 1, thereby preventing the said rod from being pushed farther down, and said rod is provided near its lower end with a stop-stud '0 laterally inserted to prevent said rod from being pushed too far up through the sleeve 15; and when the rod E is moved up and swung in position,as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 5, to serve as a support for any one using the steps, it is held in position by the engagement of a fork w, fixed on its lower end over a stud w, projecting from a side of section A. On the opposite side of the section A a corresponding rod or beading E is preferably permanently fixed, in order to make the two sides both alike, as is sh own in the Patent No. 361,212, above referred to.

This ornamental I step-ladder may not only be used for the purposes hereinbeforeset forth, but also as a screen, for which purpose it is sometimes provided with feet F ,as shown in dotted lines, Figs. 2 and 4c.

The link y, pivoted at one end to the section B and at the other end to the inside of one of the rear extensions 7c of the step C,

serves to push the section B into open position when the steps are drawn downward and opened, and also serve to draw in and close said section when the steps are folded up.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In an ornamental step-ladder, the combi nation, with the upper step, of stops Z, fixed in the inner face of the back section, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the ladder-steps are held in operative position, as set forth.

2. The combination, with the step-ladder A B, of the pivoted sleeve t, stop w, tongue 0, and rod E, provided with groove 1), stud v and fork w, all arranged and operating substantially as set forth.

3. In an ornamental step-ladder, a sleeve pivoted to the side thereof, a grooved supporting-rod, substantially as herein shown and described, held in said sleeve and movable therein, said rod being adapted to be moved up and down on atongue or pin fixed on a side of the ladder, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two witnesses, this 23d day of November, 1888.

' ANNA DORMITZER.

Witnesses JACOB J. STORER, FRANK W. MAY. 

